Jeep recalls nearly a million suvs

[IMPALAon20s]

Jeep Recalls Nearly A Million Liberty SUVs

Dated: 08/02/2006 12:00:00 AM

Chrysler Group is recalling more than 800,000 Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicles because of the potential loss of steering control, the automaker said Tuesday.

DaimlerChrysler AG spokesman Max Gates said the front suspension lower ball joint could experience excessive wear and looseness, leading the ball joint to separate. The recall affects 832,000 Liberty SUVs from the 2002-2006 model years.

Gates said the automaker has received 111 complaints about the problem and reports of three injuries. He said in many of the complaints, the ball joint failed, dropping the vehicle's front end onto one or both of the front tires.

The front suspension has troubled the Liberty before. The automaker recalled more than 300,000 2002-2003 Liberty vehicles in November 2003 because of problems with the ball joint, but some of the parts were damaged during the shipping process or installation.

Earlier this year, the government opened an investigation of the 2004 Liberty after receiving complaints about the ball joint separating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the alleged separations happened on Libertys with 25,000 miles to more than 67,000 miles.

The vehicle has since been redesigned and Gates said the automaker believes the ball joint part will not experience the same wear patterns.
Owners will receive notices about the recall in September and the ball joints will be replaced at no cost.

source

[Rtay2000]

That is not good news at all. You would think they would have checked all ball joints after the issue with the ball joints on Dakotas.

[kenman923]

It's the Liberty, so I am not surprised.

[IMPALAon20s]

Originally Posted by Rtay2000

That is not good news at all. You would think they would have checked all ball joints after the issue with the ball joints on Dakotas.

a ball joint is the kind of part you quality check over and over until you 100% it wont break under normal use.. and find its breaking point in extreme use.. dropping the ball on balljoints, is not acceptible in my book.. even if it were GM.

[Canyonaro]

I don't see how they could say, "The automaker recalled more than 300,000 2002-2003 Liberty vehicles in November 2003 because of problems with the ball joint, but some of the parts were damaged during the shipping process or installation.

Sounds like a copout to me and a bad part to begin with. If they weren't "damaged during shipping" then you have inept workers installing them wrong. Anyway you slice it, the part is/was bad. I have always liked the Liberty for 1 thing, the diesel option, otherwise I never understood it's use in the jeep lineup of "trail rated" vehicles. Don't get me starting on the uselessness of the Compass as a Jeep.

[asim]

Originally Posted by kenman923

It's the Liberty, so I am not surprised.

Is the Liberty THAT bad where you aren't suprised?

[AndrewGS]

Hmm, who supplies balljoints for Chrysler's trucks?

Meanwhile, my mother's Durango has no fix for it's balljoint issues.

[mucker15]

I dont want to see Chrysler in trouble, but the comments Dr Z.made a few months back to the tune of we dont want to be considered part of the big three because they are not considered successful might have jinxed him. Dont remember the exact quote but that was the jist of it. hope he has small feet becuase from what I have heard and read DCX is having some problems.

[SVTKAR3]

It's pretty sad that it took " 111 " complainents ( & 3 injuries) for them to actually do somtin about it

[IMPALAon20s]

Originally Posted by SVTKAR3

It's pretty sad that it took " 111 " complainents ( & 3 injuries) for them to actually do somtin about it

didnt you see fight club? they analize cost it takes to settle vs. cost to repair.. and decide weiither which is more cost effective.

[boston boy]

I have done many balljoints in my time on this earth never had a problem...

installing them wrong

I wonder how???

[01cavalier]

GM had problems with the ball joints in the late 90's on the blazers, they recalled some and extended the warranty on others. It's definitely a big deal when that happens, if I remember right there isn't any warning of it.

[toronado10]

Originally Posted by kenman923

It's the Liberty, so I am not surprised.

It's Jeep, so I am not surprised.

[Murrow]

They need to recall all the Compasses out there -- and crush them. Man, that thing is ugly!!!!

[San]

Talk about a recall, I just heard on the radio that Ford just announced over 1 mil trucks , vans and suv's today. Anyone else have any info?

I just found more info about it. Here's the link, http://www.click2houston.com/news/9622831/detail.html

Can anyone move this safety recall information with a new post or creat a new post since I'm not able to?
It seem I can only post reply, but not new thread according to this message below.

San, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

1. Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
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